Georgina Clatworthy

I have written a lot lately about wedding marquees, but they are often overlooked by brides as being a poor substitute for a fixed venue. In fact choosing the route of wedding marquee hire can be the best choice particularly if you are on a budget and struggling to find the perfect venue. Here are some of the reasons why a marquee is the perfect option for all your wedding celebrations:

• It can go anywhere: from gardens and parks, to the grounds of hotels, stately homes and ranches, you can pitch a marquee just about anywhere, with permission of course! They are the perfect choice for a late spring, summer or fall wedding and unlike other venues you can position them to take advantage of stunning settings and scenery, providing the perfect backdrop to your big day.

• No restrictions: most venues will have restrictions in place on the number of wedding guests and the time your party must end, perfect if you want to dance till dawn.

• Use it as an extension: if you have found the perfect venue but it is not big enough to accommodate all your guests then adding a marquee extension is a great solution. You will need to talk to the venue about this as they may not have sufficient facilities in place to accommodate additional guests even with a marquee. On the flip side, some venues may be more than happy for you to do this and may even recommend a wedding marquee hire company to you.

• Marry at home: if you or your parents have large enough grounds then you can pitch a marquee at home. Even if space is limited hire companies can construct marquees to fit perfectly without anyone having to step inside the house. The big benefit here is that you will not need to organize additional transport to take you home at the end of the night!

• A blank canvas: what a marquee offers over other venues is a perfectly blank canvas you can decorate as you want without being constrained by existing fixtures and fittings. You will need to consider the placement of your dance floor and entertainment areas as well as where to position entrances and windows.

Whilst a marquee is not always a budget option, it does provide a range of other benefits that are not always possible with other venues. If you are brining in external caterers then you may need to think about providing a second marquee for them to set up in and serve your food and of course you will need to think about things like power, sanitary facilities and water. Some places may require you to obtain a license before you can pitch a marquee there.